WATCHDOG LETTERS

Rock Church says report is flawed

On behalf of the Rock Church, we have reviewed the grand jury report in detail and believe that it is factually and legally inaccurate and its recommendation to suspend our conditional use permit completely without merit (“Traffic at Rock Church spurs call to pull permit,” May 25).

The City of San Diego Planning Commission correctly approved our CUP in 2004 at the conclusion of a lengthy public hearing process that included thorough analysis of all regulatory requirements applicable to our project and environmental review of all impacts pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.

The grand jury failed to properly review all relevant documents, did not approach city planning and land use staff to insure their assumptions were correct and did not correctly consider the regulatory requirements and documents prepared by the city and approved by the Planning Commission as it relates to the CUP.

As a result, the grand jury findings are incorrect and the church is an appropriate and consistent use under the NTC/Liberty Station Precise Plan.

We are disappointed the grand jury did not allow for careful review of the document prior to public distribution. Had they done so, this situation would have been avoided.

The Rock Church takes its commitment to the community seriously and remains committed to exceeding the 235,000 hours of volunteer services donated in 2011. We will also continue to work hard to implement the traffic and parking plan approved by the City of San Diego Police Department. None of these allegations are based on a traffic analysis or any facts whatsoever. While there are a few naysayers, we continue to enjoy the support of the broader community and will continue to be good neighbors in our Point Loma home.

Mark Stevens

Chief Operations Officer

Another approach to lessening traffic

This problem can be solved very easily. All Rock Pastor Miles McPherson needs to do is start preaching the true Gospel! He’ll lose about 90 percent of the attendees because their “ears will no longer be tickled” by this watered-down, incorrect, feel-good version of the gospel which has no “power unto salvation.” Repent and be saved?

Gary B. Urtiaga

San Diego

Canceling trip is journey to socialism

Canceling the East Coast trip for eighth-graders is another step toward socialism (“S.D. Unified pulls plug on trips to East Coast,” May 23). As a retired teacher in the school district, I saw hundreds of kids work their tails off to earn money for the trip. It’s just as simple as if you don’t want to work, you don’t go. What about the grading system, what about the student who works hard to earn an “A,” is that fair to the others? What the heck, give them all As so somebody doesn’t feel left out. What about a child whose parents work hard to feed him breakfast and lunch, while others don’t have to pay – maybe we should let everybody eat free. This country has gone off its rocker. Too many want somebody else to take care of them, feed them and pay for an East Coast field trip. Oh yeah, it might hurt their self-image if others get to go.